Why Did Gangnam-gu Launch the '365-Day Street Maintenance Special Team' to Regulate Illegal Street Vendors?

Illegal Street Vendors and Unauthorized Dumping Crackdown Day and Night to Improve Resident Walking Environment... 2,777 Cases Cleared Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) has organized a 16-member "365-Day Street Maintenance Special Task Force" starting this year to crack down on illegal street vendors and unauthorized dumping for a pleasant walking environment.

The special task force operates daily without holidays, working in shifts from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with overnight inspections once a week until 2 a.m.

This measure was taken by the district to address ongoing complaints that illegal street vendors, which cause fairness issues for nearby self-employed business owners burdened with high rent, should no longer be tolerated.

Special crackdowns are also conducted during commuting and lunch hours. Targets include vehicles, stalls, and carts selling food items such as kimbap and sandwiches, clothing, shoes, and other manufactured goods near subway stations, as well as fruit vendors along main roads.

Additionally, the district focuses on cracking down on ▲ seasonal street vendors such as those selling bungeoppang, walnut cookies, and roasted chestnuts ▲ various festival-type street vendors that mainly appear during festivals, marathons, and holidays ▲ and illegal street vendors around event venues and temples.

Meanwhile, through patrols last year, the district cleaned up 2,777 cases, including 1,510 illegal street vendor cases and 1,267 unauthorized dumping cases, detected 163 violations, and imposed fines totaling 43.05 million KRW.

Lee Jae-ho, Director of the Construction Management Division, said, “Illegal street vendors resisting crackdowns due to livelihood difficulties are increasing, so we have strengthened regular inspections as a preventive measure. With the operation of the special task force, we will create a pleasant street environment that satisfies residents 365 days a year.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.